Anchor



Dec. 9, 1958 B. R. SCHOFIELD ANCHOR Filed Aug. 5, 1954 K m NMQ w f5 6 9.s m k H r 1958 B. R. SCHOFIELD 2,863,415

ANCHOR Filed Aug. 5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent ANCHORBernard R. Schofield, Williams Bay, Wis. Application August 5, 1954,Serial No. 448,024

9 Claims. (Cl. 114-207) My invention is an improvement in anchors. Themain object of the invention is to provide an anchor that may beattached by remote control to the bottom of the lake or river bed insubstantially a predetermined spot with substantially more holding powerthan anchors heretofore known or in use. Further objects are to providean anchor that will hold effectively in the bottom of a lake or bed of ariver (hereinafter referred to as the bottom) where the character ofsaid bottom varies considerably, and to provide an anchor which hasexcellent holding capacity for its size andweig'ht and is capable ofbeing easily handled.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain n'ovelcombinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed outin the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in theconstruction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spiritof the invention as claimed.

, The anchors heretofore in use are lowered from the boat to the bottomand must necessarily be dragged by the boat until they either dig intothe mud, sandor gravel or snag on weeds, rocks, roots, etc. Ihaveimproved one of the more common types of anchors used on small boatsand row boats, namely, the mushroom or disc type, hereinafter referredto as the disc type, by adding a feature by means of which the anchormay be firmly attached to the bottom wherever the bottom is sufiicientlyhard for it to hold against the pull of the boat. In places where thebottom character is soft mud or silt this new feature will not holdagainst the pull of the boat and after being pulled out the anchor willautomatically function similarly to the disc type, that is, depending onthe pull of the boat to attach it to the bottom.

The feature I have added is a means for firmly attaching the anchor to abottom of suitable character by remote control. The remote control meansis the anchor rope alone, or in combination with an additional rope, ina certain manner to be described later. The drive anchor featureoperates on an entirely different principle than the disc and othercommon types of anchors. The drive anchor shaft is driven into thebottom by a movable driving weight cooperating with it, said drivingweight being operated by means of remote control. The drive anchorfeature is not dependent upon the pull of the boat to make it attach ordig into the bottom and this feature I believe to be new and novel andan improvement over anchors heretofore in use. I deem essential the dualfunctions in theone anchor construction because of the varied bottomconditions or character in which an anchor must hold.

To anchor a boat with the drive anchor, the anchor is lowered to thebottom, and while keeping the boat directly above the anchor, the ropeis raised the proper amount and then suddenly lowered. This motion ofthe anchor rope is repeated until the anchor shaft is driven fully intothe bottom or as farv as desired; Then an extra length of the anchorrope is payed out 'to allow the 2 boat to drift so that the pull of theboat on the anchor will be in more of a horizontal direction.

To remove the drive anchor, the boat is maneuvered directly above theanchor. The anchor rope is pulled up taut, then slackened enough to letthe driving weight drop and then pulled up sharply again. This motion ofthe anchor rope is repeated until the anchor shaft is driven upwards outof the bottom.

The essential parts of the drive anchor are a straight elongated pointedshaft, 21 means for driving this shaft into the bottom, and a means forloosely holding or supporting the shaft in a substantially upright orvertical position while it is being driven. It is within the scope ofthe invention to make the pointed tip of the shaft removable forreplacement or for substituting different types of tips. It is withinthe scope of the invention to design the driving means to impart arotative as well as a longitudinal motion to the shaft while it is beingdriven into the bottom, and a reverse rotative and longitudinal motionfor removing the shaft from the bottom. The shaft in this case has thetip formed in the shape of a drill for a better grip in the bottom andmay have removable tips for replacement and for different sized drillsand for dismantlement.

The shaft of the drive anchor is of comparatively small diameter tobetter penetrate the bottom, the weight of the shaft being incidental toits practical construction. The heavier'parts of the anchor are the baseand the driving weight, the driving weight being made as heavy aspractical for speed in driving the shaft. The shaft may be threaded atthe tip end or other means utilized to allow changing the tips forvaried character of the bottom.

Structures which are embodiments of the invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

Fig. l is a side elevation of a drop anchor embodying one form of theinvention, the base or grapple of the anchor being shown partly insection. The base is shown in its normal position by full lines, itspossible movement on the anchor shaft being indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the base or grapple showing a preferrednon-rolling design, with lobes, and spoon shaped extremities;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation rotated degrees of the formed point showingthe wide flat portion;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing a separate ropein addition to the anchor rope, for operating the driving weight, in adifferent construction or embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a drive anchor embodying another form ofthe invention and designed to impart forward and reverse longitudinaland rotative motion to the shaft which has a drill point tip;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the base of the anchor of Fig. 5, such basebeing suitable for hard bottom use; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevation, rotated approximately 90 degrees, of thedriving weight of Fig. 5.

In the drawing similar numerals of reference refer to identical parts inall of the views.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the drive anchor comprises a shaft 1of substantially uniform diameter terminating in a hardened tip 2 at itslower end. The base 3 is iron, substantially fiat on the bottom surface,and is free to slide between stop 4 and the driving weight 5 on shaft 1,in agreement with its dual function as previously described. The bore 6of the annular shoulder 7 fits without excessive looseness aroundshaft 1. Base 3 has self-cleaning and anti-suction holes 8 therein andlobes 9 to prevent wheeling or rolling on the bottom. The lobes 9 havetapered lips 10, spoon-shaped, and curved to the optimum angle 11 to diginto the bottom in the event shaft'l is unable to hold and pulls out.The driving weight is heavy iron, shaped to minimize water resistance,and is free to slide between the end 12 of thei embodying in its centralportion a vertical open ended of the boat acts. A slot or othermean's'lS is provided is in the driving weight for the ring 16,'to whichthe anchor rope 17 is attached. The curve of this slot 15 in thevertical plane is such as to keep the pull of the boat on ring 16substantially nearer the base '3 as more of the anchor rope is payedout. A modification of the driving means of the anchor of Figs. 1, 2 and3 is shown in Fig. 4, where the driving weight 18 is moved by remotecontrol between stops 19 and 20 on shaft 24, by means of an additionalrope 21 which is threaded through the hole 22 in driving weight 18, theanchor rope 17 being attached to an eye 23 on the upper end of theanchor shaft.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 7 of the drawing, a modification of the drivefeature is shown where the driving weight is designed to impart rotativeas well as longitudinal motion to shaft 31, which motion is achieved byinclined cam-like striking surfaces 32 and 33 hitting the ends ofcrosspin 34 and inclined cam-like striking surfaces 35 and 36 hittingthe ends of crosspin 37 Yoke 38 attaches to the driving weight 30 inholes 39. Holes 39 are located near the bottom of the driving weight 30in order to bring the pull of the boat nearer the base 40. The anchorrope is attached to the ring 41 on the yoke 38. The base slides freelyupon shaft 31 between stops 42 and 43 and is shown partly in section. Aplurality of rods 44 bent to the optimum performance angle 45 andpointed at 46 are part of base 40 and radiate therefrom. Self-cleaningand anti-suction holes 47 are included in the base 40 which has itsstructure properly proportioned for most effective action in bottoms ofhard character. The shaft 31 has a drill point tip 48 which may beremovably attached to the shaft 31 by means of drive pin 50.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, an anchor designed releasably tosecure a boat to the bed of a body of water and comprising a base havingmaterially greater width than height, adapted when the anchor is droppedinto the body of water to come flatly to rest on the bed, and embodyinga substantially vertical open ended bore, a normally upstanding shafthaving a pointed lower end, extending through the bore in the base insuch manner that it is free to slide upwards and downwards with respectto the base while at the same time it is prevented from tiltinglaterally to any appreciable extent relatively to said base, andprovided at its upper portion with stop means, coacting means betweenthe base and the lower end of the shaft for limiting upward slidingmovement of the shaft relatively to said base, a weight mounted to slideup and down on the upper end of the shaft and arranged so to coact withthe stop means that in connection with repeated downward slidingmovement thereof it operates through the medium of said stop means toimpart downward hammer blows to the shaft and drive the latter into thebed, and a flexible element having one end thereof connected to theweight and its other end adapted to be connected to the boat, saidelement being adapted when moved up and down to impart up and downsliding movement to said weight.

2. As a new article of manufacture, an anchor designed releasably tosecure a boat to the bed of a body of water and comprising a base havingmaterially greater width than height, provided with radially extendingarmlike members, adapted when the anchor is dropped into the body ofwater to comeflatly to rest on the bed, and

bore of uniform diameter from end to end, a normally upstanding shaft ofcircular cross section, embodying a point at its lower end, having thediameter thereof uniform from end to end and slightly less than that ofthe bore in the base, extending through said bore in such manner that itis free to slide upwards and downwards with respect to the base while atthe same time it is prevented from tilting laterally to any appreciableextent relatively to said base, and provided at its upper end with stopmeans, coacting means between the base and the lower end of the shaftfor limiting upward sliding movement of the shaft relatively to saidbase, a weight mounted to slide up and down on the upper end of theshaft and arranged so to coact with the stop means that in connectionwith repeated downward sliding movement thereof it operates through themedium of said stop means to impart hammer blows to the shaft and drivethe latter downwards into the bed, and a rope having one end thereofconnected to the weight and its other end adapted to be connected to theboat, said rope being adapted when movedup and down to impart up anddown sliding movement to said weight.

3. As a new article of manufacture, an anchor designed releasably tosecure a boat to the bed of a body of water and comprising a base havingmaterially greater width than height, adapted when the anchor is droppedinto the body of water to come flatly to rest on the bed, and embodyingin its central portion a substantially vertical open ended bore, anormally upstanding shaft having a pointed lower end and extendingthrough the bore in the base in such manner that it is free to slideupwards and downwards withrespect to the base while at the same time itis prevented from tilting laterally to any appreciable extent relativelyto said base, coacting means between the base and the lower end of theshaft for limiting upward sliding movement of the shaft relatively tosaid base, a weight mounted to slide up and down on the upper end of theshaft, a'lower stop connected to the uppercentral portion of the shaftand adapted to limit downward sliding movement of the weight, an upperstop connected to the upper portion of the shaft and adapted to limitupward sliding movement of the weight, said weight being adapted so tocoact with thelower stop that in connection with repeated downwardsliding movement thereof it operates through the medium of said lowerstop to impart downward hammer blows to the shaft and drive the latterinto the bed, said weight being also adapted so to coact with the upperstop that in connection with repeated upward sliding movement thereof itoperates through the medium of said upper stop to impart upward hammerblows to the shaft and remove the latter from the bed, and a rope havingone end thereofconnected to the weight and its other end adapted to beconnected to the boat, said rope being adapted when moved up and down toimpart up and down sliding movement to said weight.

4. As a new article of manufacture, an anchor designed releasably tosecure a boat to the bed of a body of water and comprising a base havingmaterially greater width than height, adapted when the anchor is droppedinto the body of water to come flatly to rest on the bed, and embodyingin its central portion a substantially vertical open ended bore, anormally upstanding shaft having a pointed lower end, extending throughthe bore in the base in such manner that it is free to slide upwards anddownwards with respect to the base while at the same time it isprevented from tilting laterally to any appreciable extent relatively tosaid base, coacting means between the base and the lower end of theshaft for limiting upward sliding movement of the shaft relatively tosaid base, a weight mounted to slide up and down on the upper end of theshaft, a pin and slot connection extending between the weight and theupper end of the shaft, adapted to limit up and down sliding movementofifthe weight, operative in connection with repeated downward slidingmovement of the weight to impart downward hammer blows to the shaft anddrive the latter into the bed, and also operative in connection withrepeated upward sliding movement of the weight to impart hammer blows tothe shaft and remove the latter from the bed, and a rope having one endthereof connected to the weight and its other end adapted to beconnected to the boat, said rope being adapted when moved up and down toimpart up and down sliding movement to said weight.

5, As a new article of manufacture, an anchor designed releasably tosecure a boat to the bed, of a body of water and comprising a basehaving materially greater width than height, adapted when the anchor isdropped into the body of water tocome flatly to rest on the bed, andembodying in its central portion a substantially vertical open endedbore, a normally upstanding shaft having a pointed lower end andextending through the bore in the base in such manner that it is free toslide upwards and downwards with respect to the base while at the sametime it is prevented from tilting laterally to any appreciable extentrelatively to said base, coacting means between the base and the lowerend of the shaft for limiting upward sliding movement of the shaftrelatively to said base, a weight mounted to slide up and down on theupper end of the shaft and provided at one side thereof with an upwardlyextending slot, a lower stop connected to the upper central portion ofthe shaft adapted to limit downward sliding movement of the weight, anupper stop connected to the upper end of the shaft adapted to limitupward sliding movement of the weight, said weight being adapted so tocoact with the lower stop that in connection with repeated downwardsliding move ment thereof it operates through the medium of said lowerstop to impart downward hammer blOWs to the shaft and drive the latterinto the bed, said weight being also adapted so to coact with the upperstop that in connection with repeated upward sliding movement thereof itoperates through the medium of said upper stop to impart upward hammerblows to the shaft and remove the latter from the bed, a ring extendingthrough, and slidable up and down in, the slot on the weight, and a ropehaving one end thereof connected to the ring and its other end adaptedto be connected to the boat, said rope being adapted when moved up anddown to impart up and down sliding movement to said weight.

6. As a new article of manufacture, an anchor designed releasably tosecure a boat to the bed of a body of water and comprising a base havingmaterially greater width than height, adapted when the anchor is droppedinto the body of water to come flatly to rest on the bed, and embodyingin its central portion a substantially vertical open ended bore, anormally upstanding shaft having a pointed lower end and an eye at itsupper end, extending through the bore in the base in such manner that itis free to slide upwards and downwards with respect to the base while atthe same time it is prevented from tilting laterally to any appreciableextent relatively to said base, and provided on its upper end portionwith stop means, coaeting means between the base and the lower end ofthe shaft for limiting upward sliding movement of the shaft relativelyto said base, a weight above the stop means mounted to slide up and downon the upper end of the shaft and arranged so to coact with the stopmeans that in connection with repeated downward sliding movement thereofit operates through the medium of said stop means to impart hammer blowsto the shaft and drive the latter downwards into the bed, an anchor ropehaving one end thereof connected to the eye and its other end leading tothe boat, and a remote control rope having one end thereof connected tothe weight and its other end adapted to be connected to the boat, saidremote control rope being adapted when moved 6 up and down to impart upand down sliding movement to said weight.

7. As a new article of manufacture, an anchor designed releasably tosecure a boat to the bed of a body of water and comprising a base havingmaterially greater width than height, adapted when the anchor is droppedinto the body of water to come flatly to rest on the bed, and embodyingin its central portion a substantially vertical open ended bore, anormally upstanding shaft having a pointed lower end, extending throughthe bore in the base in such manner that it is free to slide upwards anddownwards with respect to the base while at the same time it isprevented from tilting laterally to any appreciable extent relatively tosaid base, and provided on'its upper portion, with stop means, coactingmeans between the base and the lower end ofxthe shaft for: limitingupward sliding movement of the shaft relatively to said base, a weightabove the stop means mounted to slide up and down on the upper end ofthe shaft and arranged so to coact with the stop means that inconnection with repeated downward sliding movement thereof it operatesthrough the medium of said stop means to impart hammer blows to theshaft and drive the latter downwards into the bed, an inverted U-shapedyoke consisting of side parts and an intermediate connecting part,arranged in straddled relation with the weight, and having the free endsof its side parts connected pivotally to lower opposite side portions ofsaid weight, and a rope having one end thereof connected to theintermediate part of the yoke and its other end and adapted to beconnected to the boat, said rope being adapted when moved up and down toimpart up and down sliding movement to said weight through the medium ofthe yoke.

8. As a new article of manufacture, an anchor designed releasably tosecure a boat to the bed of a body of water and comprising a base havingmaterially greater width than height, adapted when the anchor is droppedinto the body of water to come flatly to rest on the bed, and embodyingin its central portion a substantially vertical open endedbore, anormally upstanding shaft having a pointed lower end,'extending throughthe bore in the base in such manner that it is free to slide upwards anddownwards with respect to the base while at the same time it isprevented from tilting laterally to any appreciable extent relatively tosaid base, and provided on its upper portion with a crosspin havingprojecting ends, coacting means between the base and the lower end ofthe shaft for limiting upward sliding movement of the shaft relativelyto said base, a weight mounted on the upper end of the shaft so as toslide up and down over the crosspin, provided on its bottom portion withcam-like surfaces, and adapted in connection with repeated downwardsliding movement thereof to have its cam-like surfaces engage and coactwith the projecting ends of the crosspin in such manner as to impartdown; ward hammer blows and rotative movement to the shaft and cause theshaft to be driven into the bed, and a rope having one end thereofconnected to the weight and its other end adapted to be connected to theboat, said rope being adapted when moved up and down to impart up anddown sliding movement to said weight.

9. As a new article of manufacture, an anchor designed releasably tosecure a boat to the bed of a body of water and comprising a base havingmaterially greater width than height, adapted when the anchor is droppedinto the body of water to come flatly to rest on the bed, and embodyingin its central portion a substantially vertical open ended bore, anormally upstanding shaft provided at its lower end with a drill-likepoint, extending through the bore in the base in such manner that it isfree to slide upwards and downwards with respect to the base while atthe same time it is prevented from tilting laterally to any appreciableextent relatively to said base, and provided on its upper end portionwith lower and upper spaced apart crosspins with projecting ends,coating means between .the base and the lower end of the shaft forlimiting upward sliding movement of the shaft relatively to said base, aweight mounted on the .cam-like surfaces on its upper portion, adaptedin connection with repeated downward sliding movement thereof to haveits downwardly facing cam-like surfaces engage and coact with the endsof the lower crosspin in such manner as to impart downward hammer blowsand rotative movement in one direction to the shaft and cause the latterto be driven into the bed, and further adapted in connection withrepeated upward sliding movement thereof to have its upwardly facingcam-like surfaces en- "gage and coact with the ends of the uppercrosspin in such manner as to impart upward hammer blows and rotativemovement in the opposite direction to the shaft 8 and cause the latterto be withdrawn from the bed, and a rope having one endthereof connectedto the weight and its other end adapted to be connected to the boat,said rope being adapted when moved up and down to impart up and downsliding movement to said weight.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS163,915 Bradley June 1, 1875 267,605 Sherman Nov. 14, 1882 571,624 RyanNov. 17, 1896 1,086,053 Howell Feb. 3, 1914 1,493,489 Holzapfel May 13,1924 1,494,545 Holzapfel May 20, 1924 2,490,460 McAvoy Dec. 6, 1940FOREIGN PATENTS 325,836 Great Britain Feb. 28, 1930

